When Irish Eyes Aren’t Smiling

The District of Columbia Office of Disciplinary Counsel has filed a specification of charges alleging misconduct by an attorney who represented a client in the purchase from his partner in a jointly-owned Irish limited liability company.

The attorney allegedly failed to deliver a substantial amount of the sale proceeds due to his client and made a series of false representations to the client to explain the non-payment.

One explanation for the delay was that a person with the client’s same last name “was on the United Nations terrorist watch list.” 

Later he allegedly falsely claimed that he had “lost control” of the entrusted funds to a “Seychelles company with principal offices in Dubai.”

An adverse judgment was entered against him by the High Court of Ireland. He tendered a check that bounced and did not appear at a subsequent hearing.

The specification alleges that he was held in High Court contempt, sentenced to 28 days imprisonment and has not returned to the Emerald Isle.

The bar complaint was filed in New York (where he is not admitted) and referred to D.C. authorities. He allegedly made a series of false representations to Disciplinary Counsel.

The most serious of the boatload of alleged violations is the intentional or reckless misappropriation of funds.

He is also charged with criminal conduct violation of either New York or Irish law. 

The case is In re Lawrence O’Neill. (Mike Frisch)